Russ Brandon named Sabres president

The Buffalo Sabres today announced Russ Brandon will become President and Alternate Governor of the Buffalo Sabres effective immediately while continuing as Managing Partner/President of the Buffalo Bills.

A news release from the Sabres says the Pegula’s have been impressed with Brandon since purchasing the Bills. Terry and Kim Pegula additionally personal the Buffalo Sabres within the National Hockey League and the Sabres introduced on Monday that Brandon will take over because the president of the group. “We are grateful to Ted Black for all he has done for the Sabres organization and wish him much success in his future endeavors”. Prior to coming to Buffalo he was a part of the Penguins organization as the team’s president from 1999 to 2008.

Brandon, a Syracuse native, has been with the Bills since 1997 and now has an even bigger stake in Buffalo sports.

In his new role, Brandon will oversee all aspects of the business operations for the Bills and the Sabres and report directly to the Pegulas.

The announcement comes as a significant surprise, as Black had held the role since the Pegulas purchased the Sabres in February 2011. Between a bevy of talented Bills players, Rex Ryan, and with Jack Eichel spearheading a (hopeful) Sabres resurgence, it’s hard to imagine his job being difficult at this point in time.

After Saints owner Tom Benson bought the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, he increased Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis’s portfolio by making him the head of basketball operations as well.

“We have a strong staff at the Sabres that I will be relying on and there is much from my Bills experience that can be applied at the Sabres”, Brandon said in the team’s release.

“With a lot pleasure surrounding the Sabres, there’s additionally nice alternative”. He will run business operations for both teams concurrently.